Question about interviews

[citizenimg]

Just wondering, when doing dinner/lunch with residents, and meeting PD's, is it done with other students, in a group? Or do we go out individually?
I know the interview itself will be one on one with the PD, but the lunches etc are what I'm wondering about?

Wondering if I will have to put up with any obnoxious AMG's turning their noses up at me

[rokshana]

Just wondering, when doing dinner/lunch with residents, and meeting PD's, is it done with other students, in a group? Or do we go out individually?
I know the interview itself will be one on one with the PD, but the lunches etc are what I'm wondering about?

Wondering if I will have to put up with any obnoxious AMG's turning their noses up at me

lunches and dinners are en mass...really they don't have time to take out every one individually!

and i've found that the ones that feel that AMGs look down on them are the ones that think that they will be looked down upon...the chip on the shoulder is noticable, believe me...feel that you are inferior and put that out to the universe, you will be treated differently...

[citizenimg]

Thanks for that. I assumed the lunches/dinners would be in group form, good to know for sure.
The quip about AMG's was more for humor's sake than anything else, I agree, there are many IMG's with the chip on shoulder attitude and it needs to stop. However there are also also many AMG's with arrogance issues that should stop too.

[shepher]

I was told by one program that there will be a pre-dinner the night before the interview. I don't know if I should attend and if it would look bad if I don't. Taking time off - in this case two days makes me a little worried about being absent from my rotation. So far, I would have to take three days off in one month. Are rotations generally compliant with the interview season. I know it probably depends on the rotation. With that being said, its a good worry to feel you have to possibly take time off for interviews. An empty inbox is a terrible thing....

[rokshana]

I was told by one program that there will be a pre-dinner the night before the interview. I don't know if I should attend and if it would look bad if I don't. Taking time off - in this case two days makes me a little worried about being absent from my rotation. So far, I would have to take three days off in one month. Are rotations generally compliant with the interview season. I know it probably depends on the rotation. With that being said, its a good worry to feel you have to possibly take time off for interviews. An empty inbox is a terrible thing....

go to the dinner. it really is worth it.

you're right it is dependent on the rotation, but most of the attendings know that during interview season interview is the priority (or at least should)...during dec i took 9 days (out of a 4 week rotation) off for interviews...my attending would just shake his head and ask where i was going next...but never made it sound as if i wasn't doing what i needed to be doing. I made a point of staying late and doing extra on the days that i was there.

i tried to schedule local interviews while i was on a rotation so the number of days would be limited, but i still had some interviews that i just had to schedule during my rotations (i took jan off so had the bulk of my interviews then).

[shepher]

thanks rok

[SMUGrinch]

Just wondering, when doing dinner/lunch with residents, and meeting PD's, is it done with other students, in a group? Or do we go out individually?
I know the interview itself will be one on one with the PD, but the lunches etc are what I'm wondering about?

Wondering if I will have to put up with any obnoxious AMG's turning their noses up at me

I agree with the mighty Rok, however, I was just told that for my night before interview dinner, I would be having a "relaxed" dinner with two residents at a home! I hope it's not a hannibal lecter thing

[RussianJoo]

I agree with the mighty Rok, however, I was just told that for my night before interview dinner, I would be having a "relaxed" dinner with two residents at a home! I hope it's not a hannibal lecter thing

as long as they didn't say they were having you for dinner you should be fine.

[Scientific]

Depends on the program. For mine, we interview applicants individually (only 1 applicant per day), and the applicant goes to dinner with residents only either the night before or the night after their interview. It's very relaxed and casual, good time to learn about the program from a resident's perspective. BUT, be careful, with some programs, the residents have a lot of say in how applicants are ranked.....and some residents may be fishing for info on you. You can relax and have fun, but don't get TOO relaxed if you know what I mean...

[SMUGrinch]

You can relax and have fun, but don't get TOO relaxed if you know what I mean...

Excellent point!!!!!
I was at a dinner at a University last year, there were two residents. There were about 6 people there interviewing the next day. When the waiter came and asked what we wanted to drink, most ordered water, one clown ordered a "seven and seven" (which is Seagram's 7 whisky and 7 Up)....One of the residents instantaneously had a frown. The entire evening there was relaxed conversation, except for da clown. This one resident barely said two words to him. I'm sure the resident may have said something to the coordinator, because the next day, during the interview, we were coming in and out of interviews and 'da clown' did not look happy at all.